Granite Falls Fire Department investigated for illegal gambling

Advocate Tribune report

Wednesday

Jun 27, 2007 at 12:01 AMJun 27, 2007 at 6:55 PM

Criminal charges have been filed against three members of the Granite Falls Fire Department, including the chief, Daniel Lynn Enninga, for allegedly running an illegal gambling ring to raise money for the department.

Criminal charges have been filed against three members of the Granite Falls Fire Department, including the chief, Daniel Lynn Enninga, for allegedly running an illegal gambling ring to raise money for the department.

The men allegedly ran several sports boards through the fire department. They are alleged to have obtained and recorded bets on Minnesota Viking football games. The money, which some reports suggest is as much as $1,000 per board, was used to benefit the Granite Falls Fire Department, the complaint states.

All three men are scheduled to appear in court June 27 at the Chippewa County Courthouse in Montevideo.

The case is being prosecuted by David Torgelson to avoid any conflict of interest. Torgelson is being named as a special assistant to the Yellow Medicine County attorney.

The Minnesota State Division of Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement received tips about the alleged gambling ring in 2005.

Search warrants were issued for Koepke's home, the Yellow Medicine County Bank (now Citizen's State Bank of Granite Falls) and the Granite Falls Fire Department on Oct. 27, 2005.

According to the complaint, authorities were able to obtain electronic evidence linking the men to the illegal gambling.

The complaint also notes that “serious punishment” is not being sought against the members of this gambling ring because the money was used for the improvement of the department.

All three of the men are from Granite Falls.

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